Series 6 > McCulloch examinations of the Cambuslang revival (1742) > Volume 6

156
EXAMINATIONS OF PERSONS UNDER SPIRITUAL CONCERN II
[347/-] a.x. A Woman of 18 years of Age1
I was thro’ Divine mercy, all my life kept from things outwardly gross before
the world, and in complyance with my Parents Orders when I was a Child,
I usd to make a fashion of praying twice a day: but it went against the Grain
with me. When I came to years, I usd to pray more seldom: but did not lay
it aside altogether: yet I had but little list or Inclination to it, my heart being
drawn away after the vainities of a present world. I usd however all along
my life, when I could get access to go to the Kirk on the Sabbath days: but
I think it was much owing to Custom that I did go, and when I was there,
I took but little heed to what was said, but Suffered my mind to wander
after worldly vanities. And I never felt any thing like the presence of God in
reading or hearing of the Word or [ ]2 any other duty. I sometimes thought
of Death, but I thought I was but young & had time enough before me. And
never laid to heart what would come of me when I died. When I fell sick,
I thought what would come of me if I died then? But when I recovered I
soon forgot these things.
I came to Cambuslang several times in the Spring 1742, & fell under some
Concern, but it did not come to any great height, till one day about the middle
of May, being a Thursday, [348/-] that I came in, after hearing Sermon on the
Brae, into the Manse, to hear the Exhortations & prayers there, and while a
Minister (26)3 was Exhorting in the Hall there, and speaking about Prayer,
and Peoples being asleep in Sin, & shewing it, by their careless drousy and
unconcernd way of praying, not regarding much whether God heard them or
no, & sometimes falling asleep in time of prayer, and not hearing or noticing
what they themselves said. While he was speaking to that purpose, I felt my
Conscience awakening upon me, & flying in my face, for my guiltiness this
way: for this was truly what I had been often guilty of, frequently falling
asleep in time of the Prayers in the Family, where I was, & sometimes also
in time of my own Prayers: And I thought I had been sleeping & dreaming
all my days, and I thereupon fell immediatly into great distress of Soul, not
knowing what to do, or what to say or think; for I thought I was undone &
that there was no mercy for me. I was under fears of being turn’d into Hell
for my Sins; but what I was chiefly griev’d for, was that I had so long been
dishonouring God by my Sin, and that I had slighted so many gracious Calls
& Invitations to come to Christ.
1 Mary Colquhoun - the shorthand text in McCulloch’s ‘Index of persons’ names who gave
the foregoing accounts to Mr. McC’ states: daughter of James Colquhoun, tenant in Old
Monkland. Taught to read when a child, got the Catechism to heart, and retained parts.
2 Insertion [‘prayer or’]: McCulloch.
3 William McCulloch (1691-1771) - minister, Cambuslang.